title: Prognostic value of tumor-infiltrating mast cells in outcome of patients with esophagus squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus is one of the most common malignancies of the gastrointestinal tract and carries poor prognosis. The role of mast cell density (MCD) in the prognosis of most human tumors is partly known, and there is a growing body of studies addressing it. However, the prognostic value of MCD has not been investigated in esophageal SCC, and thus, it was the subject during this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 78 patients with esophageal SCC in pT = 3 were selected, their MCD was evaluated with toluidine blue staining, and the relationship with survival rate was analyzed. Patients were compared in identical groups of lymph node involvement and post-surgery complementary therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survival rate was significantly decreased in patients with high MCD based on Kaplan-Meier analysis (P < 0.001). This relationship was also found in groups with similar lymph node involvement and post-surgery therapies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current study showed that high MCD in the invasive edge of tumor is related to tumor progression and decreased survival rate following surgery.
authors.affiliation: Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fakhrjou
authors.forename: Seid Mahdi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Niroumand-Oscoei
authors.forename: Mohamad Hosein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Somi
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghojazadeh
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naghashi
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samankan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D016629:Esophagectomy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate